Kapak Kecil. The Small Axe.

A little note from Guru IlmiDisclaimer: The author and publisher are not responsible on any injuries due to application of the knowledge and techniques highlighted in this article. The Kapak Kecil is a deadly weapon; you are advice to only practice them under supervision of a Silat Kapak Kecil expert.

While the world is fascinated with the Kerambit, another Malay weapon is waiting to be discovered by the international martial arts world. Prof Jak trained me in both the Kerambit and this weapon. I love the Kerambit, but the yet to be discovered tool of destruction is another awesome weapon. If you think, the Kerambit is mind-blowing, wait until you experience the fighting art of the Kapak Kecil, the Madjapahit-era Javanese weapon made famous by Kelantan Malays as an assassin weapon since the 15th century. I am passing the pen now to my Guru to write for all of us about the beautiful art of kapak kecil.

Guru Ilmi Khalid

Kapak Kecil: The Weapon of Malay Assassins. By Prof Jak Othman​

​​I came across this weapon in mid 90’s, when I was studying at Mara Junior Science College a smart school in Kota Baru Kelantan; I was only 11 at the time. Kelantan is the north east state of Malaysia just next to the south of Thailand. During the weekends I spent most of my free time roaming the city centre market, looking at Keris and many other Malay weapons up for sale there. Siti Kadtijah market still exists until today and it is still famous for unique products like local handcrafts and of course Silat weapons. It was here a came across the kapak kecil.

I was fascinated with stories about this unique axe which is rather small approximately 6 inches in total length. It is normally have two body parts. The handle which is made of tropical hard wood and the blade which is made of obviously metal. The Kapak Kecil is a weapon used by professional hired assassins to eliminate or punish selected individuals. I used the word punish because not all jobs need the targets to be terminated, fatal injuries were also desired results.

Most targets are male and the assassin will do his homework approximately between 7 days to 2 weeks studying the daily routine of his target. He was normally paid 50 % of the fee when he was briefed about his mission, the target and the desired result either to injure or kill. When he has planned his attempt properly, then only the mission was ready to proceed.

A normal scenario will be in a dark alley where the target normally takes regularly; or a crowded place where the victim would schedule to go on certain days of the week. The hit will be very elusive and extremely quick; normally executed from the victim’s blind spot. The assassin will hack the neck to kill. If the victim was just to be punished the assassin will hack at other parts of head, dropping victim instantly. He will live through the painful experience; probably crippled as a punishment for stepping on someone’s toes. This is the way of the Kelantan Kapak Kecil.

Kapak Kecil, Binjai Manis Model

A Little Bit on HistoryIn ancient time, the Malay Empires were constantly under threat from neighbouring nations. Smaller kingdoms were naturally alliance of the Empire and it was the responsibility of the empire to protect her alliance. In the 15th century, the King of Pattani Kingdom up north at the border of Siam and the Malay Peninsula had good relationship with the Madjaphit Empire ruler. He requested aid to make weapons from Madjapahit for his preparation against the attacks by the Siamese of the Ayutthaya Empire. A family of Javanese pandai besi (black smith) migrated to Pattani to serve the Pattani King. They were experts in making Keris (daggers), Sundang (swords), Lembing (spear) and other Malay bladed weapons.

One of them was a lady by the name of Pandai Milah. She was renowned for a skill to manufacture ladies weapons; like Badek (small dagger), Bukulima (knuckle duster), Cucuk Sanggul (hair pin), Kerambit and Kapak Kecil. In ancient times, Kapak Kecil is a Javanese lady utility tool used for cutting up betel nuts, vegetables, roots and fruits; because it is small and rather slim, the tool was carried in between the sash, wrap up in a sarong, tuck in the sleeve of her dress or firmly placed in her hair bun. In an emergency, this friendly utility daily tool could instantly become a weapon of destruction.

Cucuk Sanggul

​Even though by right the Kapak Kecil belongs to the weapon arsenal of the Javanese ladies; the assassin art of the weapon did not made famous by the ladies. They were all men. How did this happen? Pandai Jenal the brother of Pandai Milah lived in a village known as Binjai Manis. The model of was named after the village Kapak Binjai Manis became famous in Kelantan, the state north east of Peninsula Malaysia as an assassins' weapon.

​​Today, the Kapak Binjai Manis is also known as Kapak Siam, meaning Siamese Axe. Before Kelantan become modern Malaysia, she was under the Malay Kingdom of Pattani. Kelantan join Malaya for the formation of Malaysia, Pattani fall into the region that belongs to modern Thailand (Siam). Due to this geological and political fact, the people of Kelantan sometime refer the weapon as a Siamese axe because it came from Pattani. Since it is an assassin weapon, naturally the people would prefer to say it is Siamese (their neighbour’s) not Kelantanese. Kapak Kecil assassinations were common in this region until it is declared illegal in Malaysia to carry one since 1960’s.

Kapak Kecil has other versions, one is kapak bungkus meaning wrapped axe. This particular mode is hidden in a piece of cloth in a mission to bestow pain. If it was applied wrapped in the cloth, the victim will be fatally injured but should survived the attack. This is a warning to the victim that he is annoying someone out there and he should stop. If the naked blade is used, the chance of surviving is very slim. The selected targets on the victim will determine his fate. If it is neck and throat means death. Other parts of the head is a warning.

A Kapak Kecil is also a projectile weapon within 10-20 feet distance. It is stunner more than a killer. However, the most deadly model of the projectile kind is the Kapak Terbang. It means flying axe. This model consists of two parts, the kapak tied to a piece of sarong, scarf or string. This model was used to bestow pain from a distant and only used highly trained assassin. It is a projectile weapon usually applied from a higher ground aiming down to the forehead or neck of the opponent. It was applied in a swift striking airborne trajectory and immediately snaps back to the owner to recover the weapon after mission accomplished.

Kapak Kecil as a Projectile Weapon

The Pattani Kelantan kapak chronologies show it was an assassin weapon. It is different to the Javanese Kapak Kecil stories, where It is a weapon of self defence. In many parts of the world, besides being a utility tool the axe is also a weapon of destruction. In the Nusantara the Malay world, the father of the kapak was the Beliung. The blade was originally wood, stone or bones, later evolved to metal. They were made in many sizes and shape to fit their daily needs and functions. The kapak was then divided into two categories and work of refinement went through various evolution processes to become the ultimate farming tool or weapon of destruction.

In Nusantara, kapak seems to be renowned as a farming tool, except the famous Kapak Kecil of Kelantan. This is because it is rather heavy in nature; a hacking weapon which has so much disadvantage against thrusting ones. The farming tool is not really razor sharp, because it is only used to cut big chunks like tree trunks and bones of animals by hacking them with power. But the smallest version like the ones introduced by Pandai Milah and Pandai Jenal in Pattani and Kelantan was not only a utility tool for the ladies of Java; it is a perfect killing machine for mid and close range combat. I studied the art of Kapak Kecil from my aunt Mahaguru Srikandi Ramintan Samingon of Harimau Berantai Silat since 1986; and I must say I love the art very much. If you love the Kerambit; Kapak Kecil fighting art is your cup of tea too.

​Kapak Kecil of Harimau BerantaiThe fighting art of the Kapak Kecil is in the main syllabus of Harimau Berantai Silat, and up to date there isn’t any Silat styles claiming its existence in within their syllabus; to be honest, none. It may exist like the Kerambit where the old Guru has learned and kept secret a set of 2-3 buah and only taught to his most trusted students. In Harimau Berantai Silat, it is a subject and is a syllabus to study and explore. At present the only authorised Kapak Kecil instructors are from the Harimau Berantai clan.

Copycat Kapak ExpertAn international martial arts teacher visited my student Pendekar Wan Yusmar in Malaysia, who saw the weapon and now going round the world teaching it. He has also featured it in YouTube. Unfortunately, he is not qualified to teach the art yet. My message to this teacher is please come back and learn it properly from Pendekar Wan Yusmar or stop featuring it in your classes or you tube. You are unauthorized, yet!

Do Not Steal the Harimau Berantai Kapak KecilI am not surprised to see soon that there will be Kapak Kecil systems in other modern styles of martial art popping up on the internet. Let me declared early as an authority of the art; unless it is from the Harimau Berantai clan or Srikandi (lady warrior) old style from Java, it is not authentic and obviously a copycat version.It does not exists in any modern Silat styles and its hybrid like Kuntau or even Kali. But I am very sure like the Kerambit the Kapak Kecil will be loved by many who discover it. Let’s face it, the weapon is so awesome, it will be lethal even in the hand of a child. The Harimau Berantai clan Kapak Kecil system is a martial art; it is not an assassin weapon like how it was adopted in Pattani and Kelantan.

The AnatomyFor this article, let’s look at the Binjai Manis model. First, the handle of the blade which is normally made of Nibung, a tropical hard wood which is sharp at the end opposite to the blade. It is so sharp that it could be stab into the body like a small dagger. The neck and head are favourite targets, but it is also known to puncture the chest, abdomen and kidneys. It is used to trap limbs and deflect in coming; sometimes used to stab and crank the attacking limbs of the opponent which normally stop the fight instantly.

​Next is the blade. The Binjai Manis blade model are normally made of carbon steel forged into an elongated shape flaring outwards with two sharp points at the end of a razor sharp edge. The top part and the side facing out of the blade are perfect for striking as well as deflecting in comings. The two points at both end of the sharp edge are used for puncturing and tearing flesh; whilst the sharp edge can be hacked, cut, slashes or slices targets.The holding methods

There are several holding methods in the Harimau Berantai system. I will discuss about the first two basic methods; holding the handle with the blade up and down. The blade up method is perfect from long to close range combat; and the blade down method is used like the Kerambit which is good for mid and close range. The only different between a Kapak Kecil and Kerambit is that the Kapak has a stabbing handle which is very lethal compare to the striking handle of the other.

The Fighting PrinciplesLike it Kerambit, the Kapak Kecil is an weapon used as an element of surprise. Hide them in your hand. Do not reveal it to your opponent. Only allow him to know you are armed with a Kapak Kecil after you blasted the blade and sharp handle into him with a combo is enough to yield him.

The fighting principle of the kapak is simple. Since it is small weapon, the Kapak Kecil is best applied in close and extreme close range combat situation. Meaning passing or crashing the guards of your opponent; and enter to hack and stab your opponent to yield. We call this blowing the lights out.

For the size of the Kapak Kecil, the head is often refer as the mains of the light system. You destroy the head, the light will be blown out. Imagine the limbs are like wires, you cut them the light will go off too. The lungs and the heart are fuses in the light system, you stab them the hold system will malfunction. This is how my teacher Srikandi Hajah Ramintan taught me the basic principle behind the fighting science of the Kapak Kecil.

Come and Learn the ArtThe Kapak Kecil is part of the Phase 2 syllabus of Harimau Berantai. Won’t be long, we will have Harimau Berantai Silat Jurulatih (instructors) teaching the art in their countries and beyond. If you want to learn the art, please check out where and who are our representative close to you in the Qualified instructors and Representatives segment (Coming Soon). You can always send an email to me at jak_othman@ymail.com if you need more info.

The next article I will be writing will be on the Tongkat or the Staff of Silat. Take care and I see you again soon in the next article. God bless.